And when she sighed back, “Oh, yes, Val,” he picked her up and carried her off to have his wicked, wicked way with her.
Because he might have a heart now but some things weren’t ever going to change.
Epilogue
Well, all the courtiers and counselors cowered, for they expected the magician and his daughter to be dragged away at once and executed. This was always how the king acted—swiftly and ruthlessly—and since the magician had not found him a new heart, they expected nothing else.
But the king looked weary and sad. “You promised me a heart,” he said to the magician. “Yet I do not have one.”
The magician cocked his head, his eyes twinkling. “Are you sure, Your Majesty?”
The king gestured to the physician. “There is no heart in my chest.”
“But a heart needn’t always be in one’s chest,” the magician said.
The king narrowed his eyes at that. “You talk nonsense.”
“Indeed I do not,” the magician said. “I promised you a heart and I gave you one.” He nodded to his daughter. “Didn’t Prue help you and guide you in the last three nights?”
“Yes,” the king said slowly.
“And didn’t she advise you to gentle your manner?”
“Yes.”
“And are you not a better man for knowing her?”
At this the king merely nodded, for he was staring at Prue, who blushed and glanced away.
“Prue is your heart, my liege,” the magician said, “And I have found her for you.”
Well, the king might once have been heartless, but he’d never been foolish. He bent his knee to Prue and took her hand. “Will you marry me, Prue, and be my queen and heart and helpmeet all of our days?”
Prue opened her mouth and closed it. “But I’m not a princess. I’m just Prue.”
At that the king smiled for perhaps the first time in his life. “Aye, but you’re my heart, sweet Prue, and a man cannot live without his heart.”
Prue could only agree to that and so she married the king in the most splendid wedding anyone had ever seen. The king was no longer Heartless, but became King Heart instead.
And as for the magician? Well, ’twas said that he never did any true magic, but I think the gossips wrong, for what better magic is there than to bring two hearts together?
Don’t you agree?
—From King Heartless
TWO MONTHS LATER, AT ST JAMES’S PALACE…
“Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire?” Hugh stared at Shrugg. “The Duke of Montgomery? Surely that’s like sending a lit powder keg over there?”
“He might be a lit powder keg, but he’s our lit powder keg.” The older man took a sip of his tea. “Besides, Montgomery’s usually a bit more subtle than that, especially now that he’s got that wife by his side. Have you met her? Used to be his housekeeper, apparently, but you know Montgomery. Went and married her, scandalizing everyone, never mind that it’s the most sane thing he’s ever done. Which reminds me. He gave me this to give to you.”
Shrugg rummaged in his desk until he found a rather grubby bit of paper, which he shoved across the desk to Hugh.
Hugh peered down at it. The paper held the names of four gentlemen, all aristocrats. He could see no particular connection between them.
He looked up inquiringly at Shrugg. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
“I’m not sure exactly,” Shrugg said slowly. “But Montgomery wanted you to know that they’re all members of the Lords of Chaos.”
MEANWHILE…
There were a great many children in his garden, Val thought with disapproval. He’d come out only because there were a great many adults in his house, a large number of whom had, at one time or another, actively tried to kill him. They were celebrating Eve’s wedding breakfast at Hermes House and Bridget had forbidden him from poisoning anyone, not even Wakefield.
Val thought he really ought to have special dispensation for Wakefield.
“I don’t wike you,” said a familiar infant voice.
Annalise Huntington gazed up at him, the pink bow in her hair only giving a certain élan to her scowl.
Val looked down thoughtfully upon the spawn of Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, one of the many who had once tried to kill him. Despite Val’s making an honest duchess of his sister, Caire still seemed to hold him in much dislike, and Val had often caught the older man watching him with a disquieting look of contemplation on his face. Rather like a hawk deciding how best to dismember a cat.
Val smiled evilly at the child and reached into his pocket.
“Do you,” he asked, “like kittens?”
And he held out a black, fluffy kitten with a white chest.
Annalise blinked at the kitten’s green eyes.
The kitten blinked back.
“Oh, yes!” said Annalise.
Val deposited the kitten into the plump little arms and strolled to the kitchens, where Hecate and her kittens were in residence, swinging his gold walking stick.
There were seven more kittens remaining and a garden full of his enemies’ children…
ONE MONTH LATER IN ISTANBUL…
The bright Mediterranean sun shone outside, but the interior of their vast bedroom was pleasantly cool, thanks to the deep arches shielding the floor-to-ceiling windows. The arches were intricately tiled in blue, yellow, and white, with a motif that continued on the floor, over the ceiling, and atop some of the thin columns that marched across the floor. Somewhere an imam was calling the faithful to prayer from high atop one of the minarets that dotted the city, his voice rising and falling hauntingly.
Bridget adored this time of day. It was hot and lazy and most often Val spent it with her.
Today she lay across a bed draped in ochre silk sheets, nibbling on honey cakes, and perusing a letter written by her sister-in-law, Lady Temperance Caire. Pip lay curled on a tasseled cushion on the floor at the foot of the bed.
“Annalise has named the kitten you gave her Lord Sneaky.”
Val, who was engrossed in a letter of his own, grunted. “Her cat-naming abilities are as awful as my own were at that age.”
Bridget wrinkled her nose. “I think it’s sweet.”
“Oh,” said her husband, sounding deeply pleased at something he’d read in his letter.
“What?” Bridget sat up, inadvertently spilling several drops of honey on her breast.
Sadly, she’d succumbed to her husband’s fondness for nudity soon after their marriage.
Valentine glanced up, but his gaze was immediately drawn to the honey slowly dripping down her breast.
“Val…” Bridget moved to scoop the honey up with her finger.
His hand darted out, catching hers.
“Oh, don’t,” he breathed, leaning over her, forcing her flat on her back.
He bent, closing his azure eyes, and licked her breast almost reverently.
She shuddered.
“It’s the middle of the day,” she whispered.
His eyes opened, wicked and amused. “I know. Your favorite.”
She smiled up at him, threading her fingers through his golden hair. “I love you.”
“And I love you,” he murmured against her lips, before taking her mouth hard and possessively.
Their letters fell to the floor, abandoned, but Bridget didn’t care at all.
She was with her true love and the world outside could wait.
OTHER TITLES BY ELIZABETH HOYT
The Raven Prince
The Leopard Prince
The Serpent Prince
The Ice Princess
To Taste Temptation
To Seduce a Sinner
To Beguile a Beast
To Desire a Devil
Wicked Intentions
Notorious Pleasures
Scandalous Desires
Thief of Shadows
Lord of Darkness
Duke of Midnight
Darling Beast
Dearest Rogue
&nbs
p; Sweetest Scoundrel
PRAISE FOR
ELIZABETH HOYT’S
MAIDEN LANE SERIES
Sweetest Scoundrel
“While I’ve long been a fan of the Maiden Lane series, I think this is my favorite.”
—FictionVixen.com
“4½ stars! Maiden Lane and its inhabitants have long captivated readers, and the latest series installment is just as enchanting as fans could desire… It is a story that takes your breath away and leaves you uplifted. Hoyt does it again!”
—RT Book Reviews
Dearest Rogue
“[This] superbly executed historical romance is proof positive that this RITA Award–nominated author continues to write with undiminished force and flair. When it comes to incorporating a generous measure of dangerous intrigue and lush sensuality into a truly swoon-worthy love story, Hoyt is unrivaled.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“4½ stars! Hoyt takes an unlikely pair of characters and, through the magic of her storytelling, turns them into the perfect couple… [A] read to remember.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Sexy, sweet, and emotionally satisfying… Dearest Rogue is everything the reader of a Regency historical wants; it’s funny, fast-paced and has plenty of historical flavor and a romance that develops as naturally as a flower opening in the sun. Fans of the Maiden Lane series will cheer for this couple.”
—BookPage
“Hoyt’s exquisitely nuanced characters, vividly detailed setting, and seemingly effortless and elegant writing provide the splendid material from which she fashions yet another ravishingly romantic love story.”
—Booklist (starred review)
Darling Beast
“4½ stars! Top Pick! Darling Beast is wondrous, magical, and joyous—a read to remember.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A lovely book that I very much enjoyed reading. I love the Maiden Lane series and can’t wait until the next book comes out!
—BookBinge.com
Duke of Midnight
“Top Pick! A sensual tale of forbidden love… Plenty of action and intriguing mystery make this a page-turner.”
—BookPage
“Richly drawn characters fill the pages of this emotionally charged mix of mystery and romance.”
—Publishers Weekly
“4½ stars! Top Pick! There is enchantment in the Maiden Lane series, not just the fairy tales Hoyt infuses into the memorable romances, but the wonder of love combined with passion, unique plotlines, and unforgettable characters.”
—RT Book Reviews
“I loved it. I loved Artemis. I loved Max, and I loved their story. I have enjoyed every Elizabeth Hoyt book I have read (and I have read most of them).”
—All About Romance (LikesBooks.com)
Lord of Darkness
“Lord of Darkness illuminates Hoyt’s boundless imagination… readers will adore this story.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Hoyt’s writing is imbued with great depth of emotion… heartbreaking… an edgy tension-filled plot.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Lord of Darkness is classic Elizabeth Hoyt, meaning it’s unique, engaging, and leaves readers on the edge of their seats… an incredible addition to the fantastic Maiden Lane series. I Joyfully Recommend Godric and Megs’s tale, for it’s an amazing, well-crafted story with an intriguing plot and a lovely, touching romance… simply enchanting!”
—JoyfullyReviewed.com
“I adore the Maiden Lane series, and this fifth book is a very welcome addition to the series… [It’s] sexy and sweet all at the same time… This can be read as a stand-alone, but I adore each book in this series and encourage you to start from the beginning.”
—USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog
“Beautifully written… a truly fine piece of storytelling and a novel that deserves to be read and enjoyed.”
—TheBookBinge.com
Thief of Shadows
“An expert blend of scintillating romance and mystery… The romance between the beautiful and quick-witted Isabel and the masked champion of the downtrodden propels this novel to the top of its genre.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Amazing sex scenes… a very intriguing hero… This one did not disappoint.”
—USA Today
“Innovative, emotional, sensual… Hoyt’s beautiful blending of the essential elements of a fairy tale into a stunning love story enhances this delicious ‘keeper.’”
—RT Book Reviews
“All of Hoyt’s signature literary ingredients—wickedly clever dialogue, superbly nuanced characters, danger, and scorching sexual chemistry—click neatly into place to create a breathtakingly romantic love story.”
—Booklist
“When [they] finally come together, desire and long-denied sensuality explode upon the page.”
—Library Journal
“With heart and heat rolled into one, Thief of Shadows is a definite must-read for historical romance fans! Hoyt really has outdone herself… yet again.”
—UndertheCoversBookblog.blogspot.com
“A balanced mixture of action, adventure, and mystery and a beautifully crafted romance… The perfect historical romance.”
—HeroesandHeartbreakers.com
Scandalous Desires
“Historical romance at its best… Series fans will be enthralled, while new readers will find this emotionally charged installment stands very well alone.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“4½ stars! This is the Maiden Lane story readers have been waiting for. Hoyt delivers her hallmark fairy tale within a romance and takes readers into the depths of the heart and soul of her characters. Pure magic flows from her pen, lifting readers’ spirits with joy.”
—RT Book Reviews
“With its lush sensuality, lusciously wrought prose, and luxuriously dark plot, Scandalous Desires, the latest exquisitely crafted addition to Hoyt’s Georgian-set Maiden Lane series, is a romance to treasure.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“Ms. Hoyt writes some of the best love scenes out there. They are passionate, sexy, and blazing hot… I simply adore Ms. Hoyt’s books for her sensuous prose, multifaceted characters, and intense, well-developed story lines. And she delivers every single time. It’s no wonder all of her books are on my keeper shelves. Do yourself a favor and pick up Scandalous Desires.”
—TheRomanceDish.com
“Scandalous Desires is the best book Elizabeth Hoyt has written so far, with endearing characters and an all-encompassing romance you’ll want to hold close and never let go. If there’s one must-read book, especially for historical romance fans, it’s Scandalous Desires.”
—FallenAngelReviews.com
Notorious Pleasures
“Emotionally stunning… The sinfully sensual chemistry Hoyt creates between her shrewd, acid-tongued heroine and her scandalous, sexy hero is pure romance.”
—Booklist
Wicked Intentions
“4½ stars! Top Pick! A magnificently rendered story that not only enchants but enthralls.”
—RT Book Reviews
THE SIZZLING MAIDEN LANE SERIES CONTINUES…
PLEASE SEE THE NEXT PAGE FOR A PREVIEW OF
Duke of Pleasure.
JANUARY 1742
LONDON, ENGLAND
Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, did not want to die tonight, for three very good reasons.
It was half past midnight as he eyed the toughs slinking out of the shadows up ahead in the cold alley near Covent Garden. He switched the bottle of fine Viennese wine from his right arm to his left and drew his sword. He’d dined with the Austrian ambassador earlier and the wine was a gift.
One, Kit, his elder son—and, formally, the Earl of Staffin—was only seven. Far too young to inherit the dukedom.
Next to him was a linkboy with a lantern. The boy was frozen, his lantern a s
mall pool of light in the alley. The youth’s eyes were wide and frightened. He couldn’t be more than fifteen. Hugh glanced behind them. Several men were at the entrance to the alley. He and the linkboy were trapped.
Two, Peter, his younger son, was still suffering nightmares from the death of his mother only six months before. What would his father’s death so soon after do to the boy?
They might be footpads. Unlikely, though. Footpads usually worked in smaller numbers, were not this organized, and were after money, not death.
Assassins, then.
And three, Hugh had recently been assigned an important job by His Majesty’s government: bring down the Lords of Chaos. On the whole, Hugh liked to finish his jobs. Brought a nice sense of completion at the end of the day, if nothing else.
Right, then.
“If you can, run,” Hugh said to the linkboy. “They’re after me, not you.”
He pivoted and attacked the men behind them. There were two men in front, another to their rear. The first raised a club.
Hugh slashed him across the throat. That one went down in a spray of scarlet. But the second was already bringing his club down in a bone-jarring blow against Hugh’s left shoulder.
He juggled the bottle of wine, just catching it again before kicking the man in the balls. The second man stumbled back against the man at his back.
There were running footsteps from behind Hugh.
He spun.
Caught the descending knife with his blade and slid his sword into the hand holding the knife.
A howling scream, and the knife clattered to the wet icy cobblestones in a splatter of blood.
The knifeman lowered his head and charged like an enraged bull.
Hugh flattened all six foot four inches of himself against the filthy alley wall, stuck out his foot, and tripped Charging Bull into the three men he’d already dealt with.
The linkboy, who had been cowering at the opposite wall, took the opportunity to squirm through the remaining three standing men and run away.